How does the OECD count Wi-Fi in broadband statistics?
Wi-Fi is a wireless technology which is typically used to share a broadband subscription among multiple users. OECD broadband “subscriber” statistics count the broadband subscriptions which supply connectivity to a Wi-Fi hotspot in a home or office. The OECD also counts any leased lines or business DSL connections which furnish Internet access to commercial Wi-Fi hotspots in a cafés, etc. OECD subscriber statistics DO NOT count the number of users who access the Internet via a Wi-Fi hotspot. People connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi are counted as users, not subscribers. These users can be picked up in national Internet surveys. One of the reasons household survey data are so important is because they can capture trends such as Wi-Fi use which are not available from subscriber data.
